A beautiful dark
Jocelyn Davies
A beautiful dark
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Jocelyn Davies
Beautiful Dark
The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
When Skye turns seventeen, two mysterious boys appear, each as different as fire and ice. As strange events unfold around her, she struggles to uncover their true intentions and the hidden truths about her own past. Caught between Asher's wild charm and Devin's distant allure, Skye faces choices that could change everything she knows about herself and the world.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This is a Level 4-5 book with mild content intensity. Content themes include identity & self-discovery, fantasy violence. Written for readers ages 13+.
Why we rated A beautiful dark 9LE
A beautiful dark is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 404 pages (approximately 74,645 words). Strong independent readers around grade 5.3 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, A beautiful dark works for readers up to grade 6.3.
Read aloud, A beautiful dark runs about 8.3 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.
We rate A beautiful dark as 9LE ("Light — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly mild; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Identity & Self-Discovery, Fantasy Violence.
Thematically, A beautiful dark explores supernatural, identity, good and evil, and romance — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 13+ range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about supernatural, identity, good and evil.
Maybe not for
- ! Children who are sensitive to violence, even when handled at age-appropriate levels.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Content Flags
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
4/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780061990656
- Pages
- 404
- Publisher
- Harper Collins
- Published
- 2011
- Type
- Fiction
- Word Count
- 74,645
- Read-Aloud
- ~8h 18m
- Text Density
- Standard